DGAR Shillong flags off 20 days organic farming tour to Sikkim

SHILLONG, Sep 24 : The Assam Rifles kicked off the first ever organic farming tour to Sikkim for farmers of all States of the North East region, conveyed a press release issued by PRO, IGAR (S).
The 20 days tour organised under Assam Rifles Civic Action Programme, was flagged off by Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan,  DG Assam Rifles from HQ DGAR, Shillong today.
The tour comprises of 50 farmers (31 male and 19 female) covering States of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Tripura.
A planned and assiduous training of these farmers is coordinated by State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) Sikkim.
The tour will meet civil and military dignitaries and will also have the chance to witness the rich heritage of Sikkim by visiting different places in Sikkim.
The healthy and eco-friendly organic farming practices, once established in States of North East, will help to achieve a higher per hectare income by 13% by use of infield organic fertilizers.
Over the years Assam Rifles has served selflessly to the people of the North East Region, it said.
The tour will not only boost the village level agriculture in the region but the composition of the tour epitomizes the spirit of National Integration.
North East, though being a hot spot for diverse flora and fauna, still lacks awareness in the latest trends and technologies in the field of organic farming due to geographical isolation and intense counter insurgency environment, added the statement.
India is the 9th largest producer of organic products in the world. The current Indian organic market is estimated at Rs 4000 crore and is likely to increase to 10,000 to 12,000 crore by 2020.
Indian organic market is growing steady with a combined annual growth rate of 25% compared to 16% global growth rates, conveyed the PRO.
The Central Govt has also contributed to this growth with schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East region and National programme of organic production.
With all these factors and deliberations, the vision to a create a nucleus of farmers, qualified in organic farming in every State of North East, working in sync with the Govt’s golden principles of 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) given in Eighth Regional 3R Forum for Asia and Pacific was created to achieve clean water, clean land and clean air, it said.